Tom Kim

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will head straight from the Presidents Cup to the Asian Games, where a medal could earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. The 21-year-old, one of golf's rising stars, is part of the national team aiming for gold, with service exemption a major incentive for Korean athletes.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will follow up his Presidents Cup appearance by competing at the Asian Games, where a gold medal would earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. The 21-year-old is one of the most prominent young players in the game, and the stakes of his military obligation add unusual weight to his tournament schedule.

Golf Digest reports that Tom Kim plans to leave the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah to compete at the Asian Games. South Korean male athletes can avoid mandatory military service by winning gold at the Asian Games, giving Kim a major personal incentive, though rules for Presidents Cup players remain a talking point among golf fans.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim is set to compete at the Asian Games after the Presidents Cup, aiming to earn a gold medal that would exempt him from South Korea's mandatory military service. The exemption rule applies to athletes who win gold at the event, making his participation closely watched by golf fans and Korean media.

Golfer Tom Kim is competing at the Presidents Cup while also pursuing a military exemption from South Korea's mandatory service. His team's early elimination from the event complicates that pursuit, since exemption pathways can depend on winning major international titles such as the Asian Games or Olympic medals, leaving his conscription situation unresolved.